Fire-escape.



G. P. DAVY.

PIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY e, 191s.

1, 1 1 6,680. Patented Nov. 10,1914.

WITNESSES. WEA/TOR.

\ if figa/ff ATTORNEY.

H4' NORR/s PETERS C04. PHOTO LITI. WASHING mN, uw V CHARLES 1. DAVY, orsiinacnsnfnnw Yorin.

rinnnsonrn.

f Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NDV. 10,

Application filed Mayi', 1913. Serial No. 765,790.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, CHARLES l?. Davy, ofSyracuse, in theV county of Onondaga, in the `State of Neiv Yorlnliaveinvented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which thefollowing, taken in connection 'with the accompanying drawings, is a.full,

clear, and exact description.

- This invention relates to certain `improvements in fire escapes of theclass set forth in my Patent No. 827,51() issued JulyA 3l, `1906, inwhich a brake shoe is operated against `a `suitable brakeband by `thecentrifugal acf tion of a Weighted member and suitable con* nections forthe brake shoe, such centrifugal action being producedby the rotation ofa shcave around which a cable carrying one or more passengers isadaptedto pass,

The main` object is to increase the general `efficiency of this class ofapparatus by reducing `thenuinber of Working partsto a i minimum andassembling such parts so as to `apply a maximum but, uniform leverageupon both ends fof the brake jshoe simultaneously. In other Words, lhave sought to equalize `the force or pressure by which the ends of thebrake shoe are expanded into contact With the brake drum bytheceiitriiugal action of the Weighted member.

Another object is toavoid as far as possible the use of pivots ortogglesin the con nections between the centrifugally operated Weight and brakeshoe and, at the same time, to employ separate coacting y leversfulcruined one against the other and acting upon the adjacent ends ofthe bralie through the medium of separate cams on the centrifugallyoperated Weightso as to expand the ring against the inner face of the`brake drum under i pressure in direct ratio `With the varying speeds ofrevolution of thc Weighted member. y y i A further ob'ect is to enablethe relatively stationary gear to be held operative against rotation bythe same frame bars which connect the brake drum to the base` plate. y i

. A still further object is to enable the entire mechanism to be broughtinto a even `more `compact space than has heretofore been practised. i

3 Other obfects; `and `uses will be brought out in the followingdescription. y

In the drawingsmligure 1 is afront face viewiof a lire escapeembodyingthe various features ofmy invention. Fig. 2is an inf vertedplan'of the saine device. Figs. 3, 4l and 5 are detail sectional views`talren respectively ony lines and; awel, F ig. Q, and 5-5, Fig. l. Fig.6 is a detail sectional view ofv the meeting ends ofthe brake ring andadjacent ends lof the spreading levers shown in position for expandingthe ring intoengagement with the brake drinn.

This device comprises a back plate-el@` having a` stud -2- secured atone end and projecting forwardly at right angles theren pinion fla-andafbralie drum -5-. 'The pulley .f-3M is loosely journaled upon ftherearend `of the shaft or; stud--2- close to the baclr plate -l-Mandiisprovi ded ivitli an annular groove -6- for receiving an`operating `cable-7-, the latter being passed around the upper side of the pulley andadapted to Wedge tightly into the `groove to prevent slipping. Theendsofthc cable are i brought through Suitableeyes -7-- ion the bottomof the haelt plate-41- and in close proximity to each other with theiraxis in substantial alinement with tliegroove f6-M, thereby causing thecable to `embrace the greater' portion of the periphery `of the pnl leyto assure a. tight fitting grip therein Witliout liability of slipping.The ends ofthe `cable are provided with suitable surface loops forattachment to the body of a passenger so that, when one end of the cableis descending with an occupant inione of the loops, the other loopisbeing elevated to the floor or story at which. the fire escape secured, the upper loop being then `in position for use by anotheroccupant afterthe occuy pant ofthe descending loop has beenrescned. Theback piece is adaptedto be securely fastened to the interior of thewindow casing or other suitable support and for this purpose is providedwith aperturedears -8- for receiving screws, bolts or other fasteningmeans.

A` .pinion Slis journaled upon a suitable stud -10-- on the` pulley#3s-f sonieI distance to one side of the shaft or stud :-Q and isadapted to mesh with a relatively large stationary gear Dll--' and alsoivith a pinion -4.--, said pinion #JL- being also loose on the shaft orstud -.2 so that, as the pulley `3;is rotated in either directionibythecable MT', the pinion -9 Will `be carried bodily with it and therebytransmit niotionto the pinion -l- .in the same direction as thatxf thePUlllyr` The gears -4, -9- and l1-- are disposed in the same plane justat the front side of the pulley 2l-j the gear -11- being held againstrotation by suitable bars 12 which together with the back platelconstitute a part of the main supporting frame for the movableelements.

A U-shape plate 13- is secured by suitable fastening means, as rivets,-14- to the front face of the pinion 44 and consti'tutes a guide for aradially movable centrifugally operated weighted member l5- v which isprovided with a centra-l lengthwise slot .-16- through which the arms ofthe plate 13- :project as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. These forwardlyprojecting arms are somewhat narrower than the base of the plate--landcorrespond in width to the width of the slot 16- so as to allow theopposite arms of Vthe weighted member to slide freely along 'and againstthe opposite edges of the arms and at the same time permitting the backof the weighted member -lto rest upon the base of the plate --13-. Thisplate is also revolubly mounted upon the' shaft or stud -9.- so that theforwardly projecting arms on the opposite ends thereof extend throughthe slot -16`- and engage the opposite arms of the Weighted member *15-at n opposite sides of thestud,thereby locking said Weighted member tothe pinion to rotate therewith at a relatively high speed as comparedwith the speed of rotation of the pulley -3 by reason of the fact thatthe pinions -i and 9 are of considerably less radius than that of thegear -1l` with which the pinion --9` meshes.

Rigidly secured to the front ends of the forwardly projecting arms ofthe plate -13- is a locking plate -17- which not only serves to retainthe weighted member -15 in operative position against forward axialmovement but is also provided with a radially projecting extension 18-engaged in a recess or aperture -19- in one side of a brake ring 20-This brake ring is divided at 2lthrough its diametrically op aosite sideand its meeting ends are formed withrecesses -23- for receiving theadjacent ends' of a pair of spreading levers 2il as lshown more clearlyin Figs. l, 3 and 5. The brake ring i a 20-, being locked by theextension -18- of the plate -17 to the opposite plate 13-, is,therefore` caused to rotate with and at the same rate of speed as thepinion -fland weighted member '15- and is of substantially the samediameter as the interior diameter of the brake drum -5- withinwhich itfits and is'adapted to coact, the bralre ring being spring-tensioned tonormally free itself from frictional engagement with the brakedrum whenat rest er rotating under comparatively slow-speed.

A cam plate 25- is pivoted at `-26 to the weighted member -lat the salneside of the plate -l3- as the division in the brake ring but is providedwith in. vrardly diverging arms -27 extending across the opposite sidesof the plate I3- and are, therefore, disposed at opposite sides of theshaft or stud -2-, the free ends of said arms Q7-- being provided withforwardly projecting flanges 28- which are disposed in planes at an`angle with each other or converging toward the pivot 26h to forminclined bearing lfacesy for the adjacent ends of the levers -24-. Theselevers 2li--4 also diverge inwardly from their points ofV connectionwith the meetingends of the split ring -20- and extend across the frontfaces of the arms -27 so as to terminate against the adjacent faces ofthe cam lianges 28j The ends of the levers -Q4 which converge toward andare interlocked'with the meet` ing ends of the brake ring are `providedwith substantially straight or flat meeting faces -30- normally abuttingagainst each other and substantially coincident with the meeting facesof the brake ring. i

The meeting ends of thebrake ring and also the diametrically `oppositeside thereof are depressed or deflected inwardly so `as to formintervening openings between these portions of the brake ring and innersurfaces of the brake drum to receivethe outwardly projecting ends ortangs` of the levers 2l-s and also of the extension -18- withoutcontacting with the inner surface j' of the brake drum,`the object beingto permit the outer ends ofthe levers 24- and extension 18 to be morelocked to the brake ring.

The outer ends of-the levers Q4-f are fitted closely in their' recesses23- with an easy sliding lit and are provided with laterally projectingshoulders -32- and 3S- engaging respectively the outer and inner facesof the adjacent portions of the brake ringwith suiiicient clearance topermit the levers -24-- to'be deiected slightly from their normalypositions under the action of the cams 28 thereon as produced by thecentrifugal movement of the weighted member -l5- to which the camplateis pivoted. The object in pivoting 'this cam plate to the weightedmember is to permit the cams -28- to automatically adjust themselves tothe ends of the levers so as to operate both levers simultaneously withequal pressure or force.

As previously stated the flat meeting faces f -30- of the levers 24V`abut against each other from end to end and the eXtreme outer ends ofsaid meeting faces constitute fulcrums about which. bothk levers may beturned and, in view ofthe fact that the por` tions of the levers `whichextend-through the i thereby expanding the ring uniformly into brakingengagement with the brake drum.

` The length of the levers is somewhat greater than therradius` of thebrake ring owing to their divergent angle one with the other' and thefact that their inner ends terminate at diametrically opposite sides ofthe shaft or stud -Q-w and by bringing the outer ends of the levers intoflat contact with each other to establish a fulcrum at their extremeouter ends, it is evident that practically the full length of theleveris utilized in eX- panding the brake against the brake drum underthe centrifugal action of the weight-` ed member --15. during therotation of the pulley 3- by means of the brake being equally effectivein either direction of rotation of the pulley.

The brake drum -5 is held stationary against rotation by means of thearms -l2-, the front ends of which are disposed radially andhorizontally equi-distant apart across the front face of the brake drum-5- and are secured thereto by suitable fastening means, as screws 35. yThe outer ends of these arms are disposed at substantially right anglesto their front ra-` dial portions parallel with the axis of the shaft orstud Q and their free ends are passed through apertures in the backplate -1 and firmly riveted thereto so that the back plate and armsconstitute a rigid frame for Vsupporting the drum and other parts of thedevice. The axially extending portions of the arms -12- are passedthrough slots or recesses #36 in the periphery of the gear -llnforfirmly holding thelatter in operative position against rotary movement.

`What I claim is:

l. ln a lire escape, the combination with a frame, a pulley mountedtherein and designed to have a cable associated therewith, of means forcontrolling the movement of the pulley including, a brake drum, a splitbrake ring, means between the pulleyand ring for rotating the ring `tromthe pulley and for retarding the movement of the pulley when therotation of the ring is retarded, a centrifugally operated member, andmeans actuated by `said member for expanding the ring against the brakedrum, said means comprising duplicate members designed to fulcrum uponeach other and having corresponding ends operating between the ends ofthe split ring and having their opposite ends located on opposite sidesof a plane intersecting the axis of the pulley and the ends of the splitring, and a part carried by the centrifugally operated member forcooperating with the last-named ends for forcing the same apart, as saidpart is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, substantially as and forthe purpose described. 4

2. In a fire escape, the combinations with a frame, a pulley mountedtherein and` designed to have a cable associated therewith, of means forcontrolling the movement of the pulley including, a brake drum, a splitbrake ring, means :between the pulley and ring for rotating the ringfrom the pulley and for retarding the movement of the pulley when therotation of the ring is retarded, a centrifugally.operated memberandmeans actuated by said member for expanding the ring against the brakedrum, said means including duplicate members designed to fulcrum on eachother and having corresponding ends operating between the ends of thering, and their opposite ends diverging from each other, and shoulderscooperating `with the last-named ends, said shoulders being movable withthe centrifugal member, and having their operating surfaces disposed atobtuse angles to the direction of movement under centrifugal force ofsaid member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a [ire escape, the combination with a frame, a pulley mountedtherein and designed. to have a cable associated therewith,`

`of means for controlling the movement of the pulley including, a brakedrum, a split brake ring, means between `the pulley and ring forrotating the ring from the pulley and for retarding the movement of thepulleywhen the rotation of the ring is retarded, a centrifugallyoperated member, andmeans actuated by said member for ex panding thering against the brake drum, said means including duplicate members designed to fulcrum on each other and having corresponding ends operatingbetween the ends of the split ring, the opposite ends of said membersdiverging from each other, and a part pivotally mounted on. thecentrifugally operated member, said part having its ends provided withshoulders for engagement with the diverging end. portions of theduplicate members, said shoulders being arranged at an obtuse angle tothe direction of movement of the centrifugally operated member whenthrown outwardly by centrifugal force, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of April1913.

cuantas r. nAvY.

Copies: nf this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner `of Patents, Washington, D, C,

